False Terminal Buds

A false terminal bud is nothing more than a former leaf bud located at the end of a twig. True terminal buds do not have leaf scars, false terminal buds do. Some authors say that the terminal buds are absent.

American Beech

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) has buds 3 to 5 times longer than wide. The buds are two ranked (meaning in two rows) and held almost at right angles to the stem.

Kentucky Coffeetree

Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a rare native tree in southern Michigan. The twigs are stout, each large bud scar has two buds and normally 5 bundle scars but 3 or 4 bundle scars are seen. Most trees will have a few seedpods that look like dark brown peapods (it is in the Fabaceae, Pea Family).

Sycamore

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is found in floodplains in southern Michigan. The mottled bark is distinctive giving the tree a diseased appearance. The buds are surrounded by the leaf scar.

Willow

Willow (Salix spp.) is easy to identify in the winter. It has slender twigs and one bud scale.

Basswood

Basswood (Tilia americana) has reddish (or greenish) asymmetrical buds that are offset from the leaf scar. Each bud has two bud scales. Each bud scar has two small stipule scars.
Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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